Curriculum | McCombs School of Business

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Broad and Flexible Curriculum

The McCombs School of Business' core curriculum prepares you to build, manage and lead enterprises that create value. After a semester of core classes, your curriculum is up to you. In fact, more than 70% of your coursework at McCombs is self-selected. You’ll select your concentration. You’ll choose from the 100+ elective courses offered. You’ll apply for fellowships, participate in competitions, land a competitive internship, study abroad, and leave the program prepared to dive into the challenging, rewarding world of modern business.

First Year Curriculum at a Glance

Orientation
Year One - Fall
Year One - Spring
Year Two

Orientation

Planning Your Journey

Great careers begin with a great plan. At MBA orientation, you’ll begin mapping out your two-year journey, including being teamed with your cohort and identifying your concentration. This is your opportunity to connect with faculty, peers, and the greater UT Austin community.

Year One - Fall

Laying the Foundation

Fundamentals never go out of style. That’s why your MBA journey begins with a core set of classes that empower you with the knowledge necessary to lead in the modern global economy. Taken with your cohort, your core curriculum will include studies in accounting, finance, marketing, and operations, along with economics, strategic career planning, and a Custom Core class that you choose. You’ll also have opportunities to participate in research projects and business competitions.

Year One - Spring

Customizing

Spring is the season of growth. And at McCombs, spring is when your MBA journey becomes even more personal. You’ll take your final core classes (including three Custom Core selections), and then it’s nothing but electives until you graduate. Guided by your academic concentration, you’ll select your first two elective courses from the more than 100 offered. We'll also be helping you prepare for your summer internships.

Year Two

Diving Deep and Launching

A student with folded fingers concentrates

The second half of your MBA journey is all about you—pursuing your academic curiosities, expanding your professional network, and creating your ideal degree. As you begin your second year (and wrap up your summer internship), you’ll find yourself doing even more outside of the classroom—e.g., leading student groups, traveling around the world to see the global economy up close, and applying your knowledge in our fellows programs.

Also in Year Two, your career planning kicks into high gear. Assisted by our dedicated Career Management Team—and supported by the global network of alumni—you will discover and pursue your ideal post-MBA position.

Accounting

Frequently listed as one of the premiere accounting programs in the country, the McCombs Department of Accounting has offerings for everyone—from marketing students looking to broaden their understanding of accounting basics to seasoned finance gurus preparing for a career in investments.

Accounting for Investment Banking Corporate Accounting

Business Government

The Business Government & Society Department (BGS) focuses research and teaching on the regulatory, political, legal, and ethical environment of business. Today’s global marketplace is more competitive, transparent, culturally and politically diverse, and more fluid than ever before. Understanding that complicated external environment is a core skill for tomorrow’s business leaders, and promoting that understanding is the BGS Department's mission. The concentrations in this department expose MBAs to courses in areas like public policy, regulation, ethics, law, business-government relations, corporate social responsibility, and sustainability.

Ethics and Corporate Social ResponsibilityPublic and Governmental Affairs

Finance

The top-ranked Finance Department at McCombs is large and varied in scope. Approximately 29 percent of Texas MBAs work in finance after graduation. Outside of the classroom, you can benefit from participation in the MBA Investment Fund, LLC, Real Estate Investment Trust, Venture Fellows, or the Graduate Finance Association.

Finance (General) Corporate Finance Energy Finance Investment Management Real Estate Finance Private Equity

For an in-depth review from an MBA student, you may also download our Finance or Real Estate webinars.

Interdisciplinary

McCombs offers various interdisciplinary concentrations that focus on current business trends. You can enrich your academic experience in these areas outside the classroom as well with on-campus experiential opportunities like student organizations, academic challenges, and exclusive events.

CleanTech Entrepreneurship Global Business Healthcare Social Enterprise

For an in-depth review from an MBA student, you may also download our CleanTech or Entrepreneurship or Social Enterprise webinars.

Management

Students who concentrate in Management at McCombs (a Top 20 department) choose from an array of courses designed to increase your skills in developing and strategically managing people and processes. Graduates frequently take positions as management consultants, project managers, or human resource managers. The Graduate Consulting Group and Entrepreneur Society give Texas MBAs access to a professional network and the tools necessary to become top-tier managers in their chosen field.

Management (General) Strategy & Innovation

For an in-depth review from an MBA student, you may also download our Consulting webinar.

Marketing

The Marketing concentration is flexibly designed to appeal to a variety of career aspirations. The popular functional area annually propels 26 percent of Texas MBAs to employment in the field. Outside the classroom, the Center for Customer Insights and Marketing Solutions (CCIMS) Marketing Fellows program, and the Graduate Marketing Network enables strong industry interaction.

Brand and Product Management High Technology Marketing Marketing Analytics and Consulting

For an in-depth review from an MBA student, you may also download our Marketing webinar.

Operations & Analytics

The Information, Risk, and Operations Management (IROM) Department has several outstanding and nationally ranked programs, including the Information Systems program (#3 by U.S. News) and the Productions/Operations Management program (#16 by U.S. News). Student organizations like the Graduate Operations Group create a forum for you to apply what you’ve learned.

Business Analytics Information Management Supply Chain & Operations Management

Dual Degree Programs

McCombs offers more than 10 dual degree options, allowing you to earn your Texas MBA and a graduate-level degree from one of the other world-class schools at UT Austin. Learn more about our dual degree programs or the dual degree application process.

Take the Next Step

Our student ambassadors are a valuable resource here to help you through the Full-Time MBA application process. Once you're ready to take the next steps, the firsthand experience our students offer can make applying to the Texas MBA a smoother, less stressful experience.

Email a Student Ambassador